Tungsten is located in group 6 of the periodic table and is a transition metal. It has an atomic number of 74 and is a very rare metal with a high melting point. Tungsten is widely used in various industrial fields due to its stability and hardness at high temperatures.
What are the typical chemical properties of tungsten?
The oxidation state of tungsten
The most common oxidation state of tungsten is +6, but it can also exist in oxidation states ranging from -2 to +6. The most common oxide is yellow tungsten trioxide( WO3 ), which can dissolve in alkaline water to form(WO4 ).
Reactions of tungsten with other elements
- With air or oxygen: At room temperature, tungsten doesn’t react with air oxygen. However, at high temperatures (red heat), it forms tungsten trioxide (WO3).
- With water: It doesn’t react with water at room temperature.
- With halogens: It reacts directly with fluorine gas at room temperature to form tungsten hexafluoride (WF6).
- With acids: It is highly resistant to most acids.
- With Bases: It doesn’t react significantly with dilute alkaline solutions at normal temperatures.
- Heating carbon with powdered tungsten can produce tungsten carbides (W2C and WC). W2C is generally chemically inert, but it readily reacts with chlorine to form tungsten hexachloride (WCl6).
Corrosion resistance of tungsten
Tungsten is an element that can resist oxygen, acids, and alkaline metals, making it a metal with strong corrosion resistance. It is corrosion-resistant under 60% humidity and less prone to discoloration than molybdenum. It's non-reactive to various substances at high temperatures, barring oxidizing agents.
What are the applications of tungsten?
- Hard metals: It is commonly used for cutting tools and drill bits.
- Filaments: It is widely used in filaments of old-style incandescent light bulbs, although these bulbs have been phased out in many countries.
- Electronics and electrical contacts: Such as X-ray tubes and electrodes for gas tungsten arc welding.
- Superalloys: It is a component of many superalloys used in the aerospace and automotive industries.
- Military applications: Due to its hardness and high density, tungsten is suitable for military applications, such as armor-piercing projectiles.
- Other uses: It is also used in lighting, catalysts, and pigments, the petroleum industry, weaponry, and aerospace.
Research into tungsten is vital for modern technology and industry due to its unique properties that facilitate the development of new materials, especially in the aerospace, military, and energy sectors. With technological progress, the applications of tungsten are expanding, including potential uses in medicine, enhancing renewable energy device efficiency, and offering solutions for environmental protection and resource recycling.
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